MacBook A1181...good deal?

[davistld01]

First, let me say that I am a 56-year old non-techie guy. I've had every iPhone and at present do all I really need to do (web surfing, email, some videos, reading, etc.) with an iPhone 6 & iPad Mini retina.

I've wanted to try my hand at a "real" Mac, but I don't want to...and don't especially see a need to spend the bucks for a new MBP until I learn the Mac OS and how to work it. I've messed with several MBP's at Best Buy and am generally confused by their total opposite from the PC's I use at work and am somewhat capable on.

Here's my question: I have an opportunity to buy a like-new Apple MacBook A1181 from a local Craigslist seller. It's the white plastic model, but is perfect & is said to run that way...for $220. Is that a fair deal? Will it enable me to "get my feet wet" in the way Mac OS works reliably? Is it a good machine to start with?

I appreciate your help, and advise!

 

[MCAsan]

Personally I don't purchase MacBooks older that the white 2010 A1342 models. I put 8GB of memory in them and replace the HHD with a 500GB SSD. The machines run Mavericks and Yosemite just fine. I have done 4 of them for family and friends. I get the machines on eBay for $300-375.

 

[Altemose]

First, let me say that I am a 56-year old non-techie guy. I've had every iPhone and at present do all I really need to do (web surfing, email, some videos, reading, etc.) with an iPhone 6 & iPad Mini retina.



I've wanted to try my hand at a "real" Mac, but I don't want to...and don't especially see a need to spend the bucks for a new MBP until I learn the Mac OS and how to work it. I've messed with several MBP's at Best Buy and am generally confused by their total opposite from the PC's I use at work and am somewhat capable on.



Here's my question: I have an opportunity to buy a like-new Apple MacBook A1181 from a local Craigslist seller. It's the white plastic model, but is perfect & is said to run that way...for $220. Is that a fair deal? Will it enable me to "get my feet wet" in the way Mac OS works reliably? Is it a good machine to start with?



I appreciate your help, and advise!

A1181 is a wide range of models ranging from the original MacBook in 2006 to the mid 2009 MacBook. Depending on the year, it can be a great machine but I would negotiate the price a little bit. The early 2009 and mid 2009 were the only non-unibody MacBooks to run the latest version of OS X. If it is one of those I would say go for it. The older ones with at least a Core 2 Duo max out at Lion.

 

[MCAsan]

Every OS release has a page on the minimum requirements. I would not get something that will not run Mavericks.


OS X Mavericks: System Requirements
Learn about the system requirements for OS X Mavericks.

To install Mavericks, you need one of these Macs:

iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later),
MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac also needs:

OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 already installed
2 GB or more of memory
8 GB or more of available space

 

[davistld01]

Every OS release has a page on the minimum requirements. I would not get something that will not run Mavericks.


OS X Mavericks: System Requirements
Learn about the system requirements for OS X Mavericks.

To install Mavericks, you need one of these Macs:

iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later),
MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac also needs:

OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 already installed
2 GB or more of memory
8 GB or more of available space

The guy is selling it for a friend on consignment. He's not sure what year model it is, but it's running Snow Leopard and is in perfect shape. Would that give you a clue (the OS) as to what year model it might be? If not, how can I tell when I'm looking at it?

I'm going to try & buy it for $175-200.

 

[Altemose]

The guy is selling it for a friend on consignment. He's not sure what year model it is, but it's running Snow Leopard and is in perfect shape. Would that give you a clue (the OS) as to what year model it might be? If not, how can I tell when I'm looking at it?

I'm going to try & buy it for $175-200.

Snow Leopard would even run on an original Core Duo MacBook so that doesn't say much. When you are looking at it, go to --> About This Mac --> More Info and find the model identifier. It is normally something like "MacBook 5,2". You can then look at the information on MacTracker or Google.

 

[MarvinHC]

Ask him for the serialnumber, than you can look up the detailed specs instead of guessing.

 

[davistld01]

2007. Decided to pass on this particular machine. I think I'll ante up a bit and try to find a clean 2009-2010 MBP.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Altemose]

2007. Decided to pass on this particular machine. I think I'll ante up a bit and try to find a clean 2009-2010 MBP.

Thanks for your help!

Let us know where the road takes you with this...

 

[MacInTO]

2007. Decided to pass on this particular machine. I think I'll ante up a bit and try to find a clean 2009-2010 MBP.

Thanks for your help!

That was a wise decision. You should be able to get a 2009 white Macbook for about $200. If you pop a cheap SSD into it, it will run well.

Good luck!